Ankle strap shoes are a kind of women's shoe that have a strap that fits around the ankle like an anklet in order to help keep the shoes in place. In some cases, however, the ankle strap is merely decorative. The strap on ankle strap shoes usually fastens on the outside of the ankle with a buckle. In some cases they fasten with a snap.
Most ankle strap shoes are high heels, although, in some cases, ankle straps are used on flats or on shoes with moderate heels. It is most common, however, to see them on shoes with high heels. They are iconic of 1950s fashion and are often seen in pinup photos and drawings. In this iconic form, ankle strap shoes are often designed with a rounded toe or with a peek-toe, which is a kind of opening in a shoe that only reveals part of the big toe and part of the second toe. In this form, they are often worn with dresses, stockings, and bouffant hair styles.
Although ankle strap shoes may have a retro connection, they are still made by many shoe designers. Also, ankle straps are sometimes used by designers on shoes that look nothing like the pumps worn by 1950s pinup beauties. Sometimes ankle strap shoes have very chunky heels. In some cases, ankle straps are even used on shoes that have platform heels.
There are many kinds of sandals that could technically be called ankle strap shoes but are not actually part of the category as it is understood in the fashion community. While flats and sandals may have ankle straps, a true ankle strap shoe is generally understood to be a shoe that has at least a small heel, even if it is only a kitten heel, which is a very short but thin heel.
Ankle strap shoes can be found in nearly every color, pattern, and finish. Depending on the trends in a season, an ankle strap shoe may be designed in turquoise patent leather, it may be made in an understated nude suede, or it may be a simple black leather. Furthermore, the height of the heel will change according to trend. Some heels may be just slightly taller than a kitten heel while others may by stilettos that take the wearer to dizzying heights. It is no surprise, with all of the variation that is possible in just one shoe style, that this accessory has become an obsession for so many people.
